Waterless gasholder



. J. A. MASON WATERLES S GASHOLDER Jan. 5 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed 001;. 9, 1931 lttornegs.

:1 him Jan. 5, 1937. J. A. MASON WATERLESS GASHOLDER Original Filed Oct. 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 3nventor,-. L765 A.J/c zso)1. Bk ma Gttomlgs.

Patented Jan. 5, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,066,355 WATERLESS GASHOLDER John A. Mason,

mesne assignments,

Baltimore, Md., assignor, by

to Koppers Company, a

corporation of Delaware Application October 9,

1931, Serial No. 567,946

enewed March 7, 1936 7 Claims.

This invention pertains to gas holders and more particularly to that type known in the art as waterless holders.

Holders of such type are shown in various Letters Patent, among which reference may be made to that granted to Konrad J agschitz under date of August 13th, 1918, No. 1,275,696.

The present invention has for one of its Objects the production of a molder of the water- 10 less type wherein the piston-like closure has associated therewith guiding means which is independent of the shell of the holder and which, by reason of its relation to the closure, prevents the closure from tipping or canting.

A further object of the invention is to provide means, working in conjunction with the guiding means, for insuring a gas-tight seal between said guiding means and the piston-like closure as well as between such closure and the inner wall of the shell.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby if a fluent sealing material be used between the relatively movable parts of the holder such material will be collected centrally of the piston-like closure and distributed therefrom to the sealing means located at the periphery of the piston-like closure. Such material under these conditions may likewise be utilized to effect a seal between the piston-like closure and the fixed guiding means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of fixed guides extending vertically within the holder and passing through the piston-like closure element whereby tilting or tipping of the closure element is prevented, enabling one to do away with the guide rollers which work against the inner face of the shell and now commonly employed to stabilize the closure element.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means for automatically delivering the fluent sealing medium to a container or tank located upon the piston closure and from which it is delivered to sealing devices employed at the periphery of the holder or both at the periphery and in conjunction with the guiding means.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of suitable guiding means interposed between the piston-like closure and the vertically disposed fixed guiding elements (one or more) extending upwardly through the holder, whereby the closure will be stabilized against tipping or tilting with reference to said fixed guides or guide.

In the drawings I have sought to show several embodiments of my invention, stood, however, that they are merely indicative of various forms which may be utilized.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure l is a vertical sectional less gas holder embodying my invention and wherein but a single fixed vertical guide is employed in conjunction with a movable piston-like closure;

Figure 2, a vertical detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale of the central portion of the piston-like closure and the associated fixed guiding element;

Figure 3, a vertical sectional view through the central portion of the piston closure showing a dual sealing means employed in connection with a fixed guiding means;

Figure 4, a transverse horizontal view showing a plurality of fixed guiding elements associated with the piston closure, the latter being broken away; and

Figure 5, a vertical sectional view of a closure element and associated fixed guide and modified foms of sealing means, both at the periphery of the movable piston closure and between said closure and the fixed guiding element.

Referring first to the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2, I denotes the body or shell of the holder formed from plates so joined as to present a smooth interior surface. Said shell rests upon a suitable foundation 2 and at the lower portion thereof a gutter 3 is produced by an upstanding element 4.

Near the upper portion of the body of the shell there is provided an outlet, as 5, which preferably opens into an off-take pipe 6, the upper end of which terminates above the roof I of the holder. The roof will be provided with one or more louver ventilators, as 8.

Mounted within the shell, and movable up and down therein according'to the gas pressure obtaining below the same, is a piston-like closure, designated generally by- 9.

At the central portion of the closure 9 there is provided a tank l0, preferably annular in form. Extending upwardly therethrough is a fixed post or column ll, preferably formed of pipingand externally finished so as to provide a smooth surface.

Mounted above the tank l0 and secured thereto, is a guiding shoe l2 which makes a relatively close fit with the tubular member or column ll. As will be seen upon reference to Figure 2, the upper and lower edges of the central opening which is formed in the: shoe are rounded so that View of a waterit being undercolumn II is designed to be filled witha 'suitable there can be no binding action between it and the column.

Contracting rings I3 and I4 are seated in grooves formed in the inner face of the shoe I2 and bear directly against the'member II. Ex-

tending upwardly from the outwardly extending.

flange I5 of the shoe is a cylindrical element I6, said element being flanged at its lower and upper ends, as at I1 and I8. The-flange I1 is connected with theflange I5 and the flange I8 is connected with the flange shoe 20. The shoe 20 has its inner edges rounded, as is the case with the lower shoe I2, and carries contractingrings 2-I and 22 which function with the vertical column 'or guiding member II. The space formed by the cylindrical member I6, the shoesIZ and 20,f andthe lubricant material, such as grease, tar'or the like. It is supplied thereto through apipe 23' sure 9 and the guiding column II which prevents the tipping or tilting of the closure to such an extent as would open up or render ineffective the sealing. means, to be later described, employed between the piston-like closure and the inner wall of the shell. r V

Sealing medium employed in conjunction with the sealing means at the outer portion of thepiston closure is fed to said means from the tank I0 through suitable pipes 28. *The sealing liquid maybe fed to the tank by any suitable means. In the instant case there is shown a pipe 29 extending upwardly and beneath the roof 'I and terminating within. the hollow column II Its down-turned end discharges into a cup 30 supported upon a cross partition 3I. secured within -.the column II an'd j ust below lateral openings 32 formed therein. Thefluid sealing medium is thus conducted to the outersurface of the 001- umn II and tends, in ameasure, to lubricate the same. It is caught as it passes'downwardly by a cup-33 mounted upon theupper end .of the shoe 20. From the lower' portion of this cup there extends a pipe. 34, which terminates over or within the tank IO; V 7

At its lower end pipe 29 is connected to the outlet of a pump35, which latter is driven by an electric motor 36,

connected by a pipe 31 to a supply tank 38 which in turn is connected through a pipe 39 with the gutter 3. I

Motor 36 is designed to be brought into action .when the liquid sealing medium within the tank I0 falls below a given level. Any suitable means for opening and closing the circuit according to the liquid level in the tank I0 may be employed and there is shown, moreor lessdiagrammatically in Figure 1 of the drawings, a means whereby this may be effectuated.

Pivoted to a bracket 40 secured to the piston 9is a float lever 4| having attached to its outer I9 of a second guiding which latter is in turn connected to the The inlet of ,the-pump is r end a float. 42. from the lever M and is attached to one end of a lever 44 of the first order. A rope or cable 45 attached to the opposite end of the lever 44 passes upwardly and over suitable pulleys 46, 41 and thence downwardly outside of the shell of the holder. is attached mounted a mercoid switch 49. To the opposite end of the bar 48 there is secured a cable 50 which passes upwardly over and about pulleys 5I and 52 and thence downwardly within the body of the holder where it is connected to the framing 21 of the piston closure. It will thus be appreciated that as the float rises cable 45 will be drawn downwardly within the holder and upwardly through that portion which is without the holder, tipping the rod 48 and throwing the mercury within the switch 49 away from the circuit terminals therein.

Wires or cables 53 and 54 extend from the terminals just mentioned and are looped, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, to permit descent of the piston without placing strain upon the cables. The cables or wires are connected to the motor 36 and one of them includes in its run a source of It will thus be seen that as the float falls the mercurywithin the switch 49 will close the circuit through the cables 53, 54 and thus energize the motor bringing the'pump 35 into action and thereby forcing the liquid sealing medium upwardly through pipe 29 from which it electrical energy 55.

A link 43- extends upwardly To the lower end of this cable 45 one end of a bar 48upon which is isdischarged into the column I I in the manner heretofore set forth.

The liquid sealing medium passes outwardly through the openings 32 overthe outer face of the column I I and into the cup 33. It thus serves to lubricate the outer surface of the guiding and stabilizing column II and finally passes intothe tank I0 through the pipe 34. The liquid also producesa seal between the column and the contact ing guiding means closure.

As will be appreciated, any form of seal may be utilized in connection the piston and the inner faceof theholder. In Figure 1 there is shown a trough or channel which surrounds the piston closure.

carried by the piston-like tank I0 through the pipes 28.

The level of the sealing medium within the trough 56is maintainedby flow from the tank III in which latter the liquid is maintained at a'fixed or approximately fixed level through the means heretofore described. 3 The sealing means shown in Figure 1 is ,comparable to that shown in the patent to Jagschitz No. 1,481,099, to which reference is made. It may besaid to comprise a series of rubbing bars 51 urged outwardly against the smooth inner wall structure and designed to ontact the piston body when the piston closure is moved downwardly to its full extent. Acting series of legs 6I depending from the piston closure 9 and contacting the foundation or base of the sttrulcture as the piston comes to rest upon the s 00 s.

with the outer portion of 52-.

in a similar manner in a Said channel is denoted by 56 and is in communicationwith the Outlet 5 and its stackrfi; together with the louver ventilator 8 keep the shell above the piston free ofany accumulation of gas so that workmen may readily enter the holder above the piston at any time through a trap-door (not shown) in the roof. Furthermore the opening 5 is placed at such a distance below the roof as toprovide a free outlet for the gas from the holder when the piston closure ismoved upwardly so that it clears said opening. Thus the gas is prevented from forcing the piston-like closure upwardly to such an extent as would force it into contact with the roof structure and the pipe or' conduit 29. It will therefore be seen that the opening 5 performs a dual function. It assists in ventilating the holder above the piston,-in case of leakage, and it acts as a safety vent for gas from beneath the piston when the gas pressure is such that the piston would be forced upwardly to too great an extent were it not for the presence of this safety vent.

It will be appreciated that the tank I0 is centrally disposed with reference to the piston-like closure and as a consequence tends to stabilize the same against tipping or tilting. The sealing liquid or medium in the tank adds the needed weight, in part at least, to maintain suflicient pressure upon the gas within the holder to force the same outwardly when occasion requires. The weight of the liquid within the tank does away with the necessity for the employment of weights upon the piston-like closure, at least in holders of moderate size.

Instead of employing one column, as H, a plurality of columns may be employed for guiding and stabilizing the piston closure. In Figure 4 three such columns are shown and are designated by the numerals H N and H Any form of sealing means may be employed between said columns and the holder. In the instant case they are shown as extending upwardly through a centrally located tank If! secured to the piston closure 9. A sealing means, which is a modification in part of the sealing means heretofore described, between the column and the closure is shown in Figure 3 wherein the shoes l2 and 20 are present along with the contracting rings. These shoes are interconnected by a member, as 16, spaced away from the column, say H forming a closed space or chamber for the reception of lubricant which may be forced thereinto through a pipe 62 leading from a grease cup 63. As in the structure heretofore described, the columns are hollow and the cups 33 are present to gather any fluent lubricant that may pass to the outer face thereof. In addition to the sealing means heretofore described in connection with the column, I have shown in Figure 3 the rubbing bar construction coacting with the column, such rubbing bar construction being similar to that above referred to and upon which similar reference numerals are placed with the exponent added thereto. In this instance the tank 10* serves the dual purpose of a reservoir for feeding lubricant outwardly to the peripheral sealing means of the piston as well as a trough for the sealing mechanism just mentioned in connection with the column.

In Figure 5 a still further modification is shown wherein a column and a portion of a piston closure and holder shell are disclosed. In this instance the column, denoted by 66, passes upwardly through the piston-like closure 9 and the tank ill. The lower guiding shoe, denoted by 61, is of the same form heretofore described and there extends upwardly therefrom a member 68 spaced from the column and having its upper flanged end-attached to a combined guide and sealing element B9. The space formed between the members 61, 68 and the lower end of the member 69 produces a chamber designed to hold a sealing medium which may be supplied thereto in any suitable manner, as through a pipe to a pressure cup 1 I. The upper end of the member 69 is so fashioned as to cooperate with a packing gland 12- so as to force the packing 13, held between the parts 69 and 12, into contact with the column 66 when the gland is drawn downwardly. A cup 14 may be provided upon the upper face of thegland to receive the fluentsealing medium which flows down over the outer face of the column. An off-take pipe 15 extends therefrom to the tank!!! and is comparable to the pipe 34 heretofore described. In addition to the contracting rings, as are shown in Figure 2 and are present in the structure shown in Figure 5, a series of contractingrings 16 may be placed in the element 69 to assist in forming atight seal between the column and the piston.

As above indicated, any form of sealing means may be employed between the periphery of the piston-like closure and the wall of the shell and in Figure 5 the piston-like closurejs shown as provided with an outwardly and downwardly extending flange or lip 11. A series of wedge-shaped members 18, so arranged as to form a complete annular member, rest upon the depending flange or skirt 11 and are forced outwardly into intimate contact with the inner face of the shell or holder through their own weight and the weight of the liquid in the trough above the same. The structure disclosed is comparable to that shown in Figure 5 of the patent to Jagschitz No. 1,275,696 and is merely disclosed as illustrating the breadth of the invention. As above noted, any effective form of seal may be employed between the piston and the inner wall of the holder or shell.

As above pointed out, by having a column, or preferably a plurality of columns, extending upwardly through the holder structure and through the piston-like closure the piston is stabilized against tilting or tipping and yet may move freely up or down as the case may be.

No claim is made herein to a holder having a piston-like closure, guiding means located inwardly of the circumference of the same, a tank for sealing medium carried by the closure and sealing means for sealing said closure with reference to the holder shell and the guiding means, such arrangement being set forth and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 620,244, filed June 30, 1932, which is a continuation in part of the present case.

Nor is any claim made herein to a holder having a piston-like closure with a guiding column extending upwardly therethrough; sealing means extending around the periphery of the closure; a tank for sealing medium carried by the closure centrally thereof and at such level as to maintain the desired and requisite level of the sealing medium within the sealing means about the periphery of the closure; from said tank to the peripheral sealing means; and sealing means between the column and a portion of the apparatus directly associated with the closure.

What is claimed is:

1. In a waterless gas holder, the combination of a shell; a piston-like closure therein; means for sealing the closure with reference to the shell;

16 connected,

connections extending a fixed column extending upwardly within the shell and through the closure element; an extendedrbearing carried by the closure and contacting the column, said bearing including an spaced bearing members surrounding the column; and a member connecting said bearing members,

said member standing in spaced relation to the column and forming therewith and the spaced bearing members a lubricant retaining chamber. 3. A waterless gas holder as set forth in claim '2, wherein means is provided for feeding lubricant to the lubricant retainingchamber.

the piston-like closure; an extended bearing between said 4. 'Awaterlessg'as: holder asset forth in claim wherein one of thespacedbearing members at least carries a contracting ring bearing against the column.

5. A waterless gas holder asset forth in claim 2, wherein each of the spaced bearing. members carriesvat least one contractingiring. bearing against the column. 7. I

6. Awaterless 2, wherein each ofthe spaced bearing members gas holder as set forth in claim carries at least one contracting ring bearing, against the column; and force. feed lubricating means is connected with the lubricant chamber.

'7. In a waterless; gas holder, the combination of a shell; a piston-like closure therefor, said closure having a tankrlocatedcentrally thereof; means for feeding a sealing liquid'to said tank; a fixed column extending upwardlythrough the closure; and means located within the tank-and bearing against the column for effecting, in conjunction with the sealing liquid, a gas-tight seal about said column.

' JOHN A. MASON; V 

